Trevor Project study shows LGBTQ youth mental health worsening

Between September 2023 and March 2025, researchers surveyed 1,689 LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24 every six months to track changes in their mental health and experiences.

The results are deeply troubling. In just one year, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide all increased.

Anxiety symptoms went up from 57 percent to 68 percent, depression from 48 percent to 54 percent, and suicidal thoughts from 41 percent to 47 percent.

Although the number of youth who attempted suicide dropped slightly from 11 percent to 7 percent, that figure is still far higher than among heterosexual or cisgender youth.

Transgender and nonbinary young people faced the greatest challenges. They were almost twice as likely as cisgender youth to report anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

About 70 percent of transgender and nonbinary respondents said they felt anxious compared to 42 percent of cisgender participants. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 53 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth compared to 28 percent of cisgender youth.

Researchers also found that discrimination, harassment, and poverty continue to take a toll.

Many participants said they had trouble meeting basic needs like food or housing.

Even more disturbing, the number of youth who said they were threatened with conversion therapy doubled from 11 percent to 22 percent, and those who actually experienced it rose from 9 percent to 15 percent.

There were some signs of progress.

Feelings of support at school increased from 53 percent to 58 percent. More youth sought help from a mental health professional during a crisis, rising from 32 percent to 64 percent. Support from friends also grew significantly, from 45 percent to 73 percent.

These findings show that when young people feel accepted and have access to help, their mental health outcomes improve.

For Chicago, where LGBTQ community organizations play a vital role in supporting youth, the study’s findings hit close to home. Groups like Howard Brown Health, Center on Halsted, and The Night Ministry continue to see rising demand for youth mental health services and crisis support.

Chicago’s network of affirming churches, youth centers, and school advocates are working to create safe spaces for young people to talk openly about mental health without fear or shame.

The study confirms that the way LGBTQ youth are treated by families, schools, and communities directly affects their well-being. Discriminatory laws and rhetoric are not just harmful words. They have real consequences for real lives. Families, educators, and faith leaders can make an enormous difference simply by offering acceptance and support. Health professionals must also continue expanding access to LGBTQ-affirming care.

The Trevor Project’s message is clear, “The manner in which LGBTQ youth are treated in this country harms their health and risks their lives, and it is only getting worse.”